16.13 Million Flew in 2024, SpiceJet Had Highest Cancellations: DGCA

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which oversees civil aviation, domestic airlines carried 16.13 million passengers in 2024 as opposed to 15.20 million in 2023. This marks an 8.19% increase compared to the previous month.

The DGCA reported that IndiGo had the best on-time record in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, with 73.4%, followed by Akasa Air (62.7%) and Air India (67.6%).

Flight Cancellations Among Major Airlines

SpiceJet had the highest cancellation rate among major airlines at 1.81%, followed by IndiGo at 1.17%. The overall cancellation rate for domestic airlines in December 2024 was 1.07%.

Regional Airlines with Higher Cancellation Rates

Regional airline Fly Big recorded the highest cancellation rate at 19.23%, followed by Alliance Air at 4.35% and IndiaOne Air at 2.83%.

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Reasons for Flight Cancellations

There are several reasons for the cancellation of the domestic flight services with weather being the major issue. Check the other factors below:

• Weather: 27.2%
• Technical Issues: 20.8%
• Operational Issues: 6.4%
• Commercial Issues: 1.3%

Key Highlights of the DGCA Report

To keep up with the increased demand for air travel in the nation, which is one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets in the world, airlines are boosting both their fleets and their networks.

• Airlines spent Rs 1.26 crore on compensation and facilities for 67,622 passengers affected by flight cancellations.
• For 2,79,985 passengers impacted by flight delays, Rs 3.78 crore was spent on facilitation in December.
• Airlines compensated 2,147 passengers who denied boarding, with Rs 1.76 crore spent on services and compensation.

• A total of 817 complaints were filed in December, averaging 0.55 complaints per 10,000 passengers.
• Key complaint categories:
• Baggage issues: 25.8%
• Refunds: 21.3%
• Customer service: 7.7%

As per the DGCA Report, the airlines with the most complaints: Fly Big, SpiceJet, and Alliance Air.